TALENT ON TAP

IT HAS BEEN said that instant, easy access to centuries of music makes it hard for young artists to find a truly original voice. Apparently, Naia Izumi didn’t get the memo. On the evidence of A Residency in the Los Angeles Area (Sony Masterworks) a fresh, new sound has been created, featuring guitar work that recalls neo-soul, but with a style of comping that incorporates unique chord voicings and string tapping. This personal take on accompaniment is integrated into tunes featuring odd-time sections, hook-laden choruses and a high-voiced singing style that summons the emotional power of blues-legend Skip James.

When last interviewed by in 2016, Izumi was in Los Angeles, identifying as female, playing on the street and scuffling day to day. In 2018, now identifying as almost on a whim, promptly winning the whole shebang. That eventually led to a major label deal with Sony Masterworks and a record produced by Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, Molly Tuttle, X, the Replacements). But as he explains, getting where he is today didn’t require any changes in his approach.